Thursday, August 28, 2014

Quilting Classes

Tuesday Sept 2nd

The perfect quilt for fall! Crazy Jacks is a great seasonal quilt that involves a fun way to stack and slash your fabric. You won’t believe how fast these “quilt by number” blocks go!

Tuesday Sept 9th

Paper Piecing Club (Wisconsin)

Time: 6pm to 9pm
Instructor: Patti Hayden

Fee: $25

Learn paper piecing, a foundation technique that will allow you to create blocks that are all the same size; each with precise, sharp points and perfectly matched intersections. This easy to learn method will open up the world of quilting, to include designs you thought you couldn’t do. You’ll be seeing “stars”!!

Friday Sept 12,26th and Oct 10th (3 sessions)

Lady Liberty (Machine Embroidery)

Time: 10:30 to 5pm
Instructor: Pam Carter

Fee: $125

This appliqué pattern using your embroidery machine is just one more reason why Embroidery machines are a must have in every home.

Tuesday Sept 16th and 23rd (2 sessions)

T Shirt quilts

Time: 10am to 3pm
Instructor: Daniela Hogan

Fee: $70

Gather all those T-shirts you just can’t throw away and make a memory quilt.

Wednesday Sept 17th

Paper piecing (Alabama)

Time: 11am to 4pm
Instructor: Aimee Griffin

Fee: $25

We continue with learning new techniques with paper piecing. This month we’ll be making the Alabama star.

Friday, Sept 19th and Oct 3rd

Tessellating Triangles (2 sessions)

Time: 10am to 4pm
Instructor: Aimee Griffin

Fee: $35

Half square triangles make this quilt quick and easy. Learn the easy way of making these units eight at a time!

Monday Sept 22nd

Border Basics

Time: 11am to 1pm
Instructor: Aimee Griffin

Fee: $15

Learn how to add borders to any size quilt. We will also learn how to miter a border and the importance of measuring correctly.

Wed Sept 24th

Machine Quilting Basics

Time: 10am to 1pm
Instructor: Karen Ponischil

Fee: $45

Student will learn the basics of free motion quilting. This is a no mark technique workshop where the student will be introduced to several different free motion quilting pattern designs. Student will learn: about thread, machine feet, needles and batting how to ready your machine starting and stopping several free-motion quilting designs.

Wednesday, Sept 24th

Advanced Machine Quilting Feathers

Time: 2pm to 5pm
Instructor: Karen Ponischil

Fee: $45

Feathers are the classic quilt motif. Learn the basics of creating feathers from the “Shell/teardrop” shape in this free motion quilting class.

Friday Sept 26th

Advanced Thread Painting Poppy

Time: 10am to 1pm
Instructor Karen Ponischil

Fee: $65

Student will learn the advanced techniques of painting with thread on the poppy. In this class they will learn how to add color, shading and highlights to a flat area to give it dimension and depth.

Saturday Sept 27th

Machine Quilting Basics

Time: 10am to 1pm
Instructor: Karen Ponischil

Fee: $45

Student will learn the basics of free motion quilting. This is a no mark technique workshop where the student will be introduced to several different free motion quilting pattern designs. Student will learn: about thread, machine feet, needles and batting how to ready your machine starting and stopping several free-motion quilting designs

Saturday Sept 27th

Intro to Thread Painting (Gingko leaf)

Time: 2pm to 5pm
Instructor: Karen Ponischil

Fee: $55

Students will learn the basics of painting with thread. In this class they will learn how to ad color, shading and highlights to a flat area to give it dimension.

Tuesday, Sept 30th

Finishing Class

Time: 10am to 3pm
Instructor: Daniela Hogan

Fee: $35

Need some extra time and instruction on a project? Stumped on the next step of something you started? Join Daniela and get the help you need with those WIP’s (Work-in-progress). This is a free form class that you can bring your own project and work at your own pace!

Sewing Classes

Thursday Sept 4th

Shadow Embroidery

Time: 10am to 1pm
Instructor: Carmen Baugh

Fee: $40

Shadow work is a very subtle and interesting form of embroidery. As the name would suggest, the basic idea is to use sheer fabric where only the barest outline of the pattern appears on the surface and the crisscrossed threads underneath show through, thereby creating a "shadow" pattern. You will learn the basics of Shadow Embroidery in this class. You will work a Shadow Embroidery sample of a bouquet of flowers.

Friday Sept 5th

Beginning Smocking

Time: 10am to 3pm
Instructor: Carmen Baugh

Fee: $40

Learn the basics of Smocking. You will learn about needles used for smocking, types of embroidery floss and various smocking stitches. You will smock a sampler in class. Pleated fabric for sampler will be provided and is included in class fee

Tuesday Sept 9th,16,23,30th (4 sessions)

Pattern Drafting I Class

Time: 2pm to 5pm
Instructor: Mary Sue Christenbury

Fee: $100

Learn how to take exact body measurements and make a Body Glove Pattern out of muslin. Learn to cut & spread body glove to make a pattern that fits you perfect. Adapt body glove to Make your own Pattern.

Thursday Sept 11th,18th, 25th (3 sessions)

Hooded Rain Jacket

Time: 10am to 3pm
Instructor: Pam Carter

Fee: $45

Lighten up your outerwear with this fun rain jacket.

Thursday Sept 11th

Carport Wrap Skirt

Time: 6pm to 9pm
Instructor: Pam Carter

Fee: $25

This design is based on a simple wrap skirt and features a sassy shorter length and saucy button front.

Saturday September 13th

Wrapped Baskets (Sewing)

Time: 10am to 1pm
Instructor: Patti Hayden

Fee: $25

Learn to make these amazing bowls, baskets and purses from clothesline and fabric, using simple wrapping and coiling methods and zigzag stitching. You’ll make one project in class, but you’ll learn the techniques to make any project. These projects are easy and FUN to make and they make great gifts! Anyone and everyone can do this!!
Book: It’s a wrap, (book is not necessary for class)

Tuesdays Sept 16th,23rd, 30th Oct 7th, 14th (5 sessions)

Stitch-By-Stitch: Sewing

Time:6pm to 9pm
Instructor: Pam Carter

Fee: $100

Learn to sew one project at a time. Book included.

Thursday Sept 18th

Cap-Sleeved Blouse

Time: 6pm to 9pm
Instructor: Pam Carter

Fee: $25

A dress shirt collar that’s just a tiny bit oversized to keep it hip, a curved hem and darts in front and back makes this little cap sleeve blouse cute and fun.

Home Décor Classes

Thursday Sept 18th

Creating Custom Cushions Seminar

Time: 6pm to 9pm
Instructor: Susan Woodcock

Fee: $25

In this class you will learn about the materials and supplies used to make custom cushions. This class will help you make the right choices before you tackle a cushion project; saving you time and money.

Clubs

Saturday September 20th (every 3rd Sat)

Park Bench

Time: 10am to 1pm
Instructor: Daniela Hogan

Fee: $250

Includes book, fabric and 3 hours each month for 9 months. Hands on Block of the month.

Saturday Sept 13th

Serger Club

Time: 9am to 11am
Instructor: Pam Carter

Fee: $10

In this Demo/Lecture class (machine not required) you will learn different serging techniques, new project each month.

Saturday Sept 20th

Embroidery Club

Time: 9am to 11am
Instructor: Pam Carter

Fee: $10

In this Demo/Lecture class (machine not required) you will learn different Embroidery techniques, new project each month.

Home Dec Days

Saturday September 13th

Time: 11am to 12pm
Instructor: Susan Woodcock

Fee: Free

Join Susan Woodcock, AKA Home Dec Gal at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store every second Saturday of the month for free home decor mini-workshops starting at 11am

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Heavy, felted wool is a beautiful material for crafting and sewing. You can cut out shapes with little or no fraying so felted wool is ideal for appliqué and accent pieces. Because it is the same on both sides, it doesn’t always require a lining. For an easy and fast appliqué apply Pellon® Wonder-Under® transfer web to on side of a piece of wool felt, cut out letters or shapes and then peel away the paper backing and press onto another piece of fabric. This is a great way to make school banners, or a quick, custom pillow!

For a vintage look, use wool felt to make pretty, romantic flowers that can be pinned to hats, coat or dress lapels or attached to hair clips or bands. Use an assortment of wool flowers to create a one-of-a-kind bouquet or corsage. For larger pieces, use hot melt glue to attach the flowers to a base. We are sharing three flower designs for you to try. What a great way to use up wool fabric scraps!

Also consider using felt instead of wool for the same effect!

Rose Petal Flower

Draw a quick five-petal flower pattern about 3 inches across. It doesn't have to be perfect!

Cut out the flower pattern and trace around it on your fabric. You will need six for each flower. Cut out the shape, fold in quarters and clip a hole in the center.

Fold each flower in half and roll up so that it looks like a rose. Hand stitch at the bottom.

Continue making individual roses and stitching them together.

When you have six pieces sewn together (or as many as you like), whip-stitch them all together so that all the pieces are connected.

Your pretty rose petal flower is finished!

Chrysanthemum Flower

Cut a strip of wool felt 2½ inches x 15 inches, fold in half lengthwise and machine down the cut edges ¼-inch from the edge.

Using a pair of small, sharp scissors, clip the folded edge stopping within ¼-inch of the stitch line, creating a fringe.

Roll up the fringed strip, hand stitching on the bottom as you roll it up.

When you get to the end, fold over and hand stitch to the bottom.

Fluff to finish your flower!

Daisy Flower

Cut a strip of wool felt 1½ inches x 12 inches. Fold in half and then fold into thirds.

Cut a slight curved shape on one side through all the layers.

Unfold the shaped strip. Using a needle and thread, sew a large running stitch along the straight edge and pull up to gather, creating the flower shape. Overlap the cut ends, adding a stitch to secure the ends together.

Sew a button in the center and you have a darling, daisy flower!

To make your wool flowers more lifelike and interesting, add leaves made from silk fabric. The shimmer of the silk makes a pretty contrast with the matte wool felt.

Apply Pellon® Wonder-Under® transfer web to a piece of green silk.

Peel away the paper backing, cover with another piece of green silk and press, fusing the two pieces together. Cut out simple leaf shapes.

For added dimension, fold each leaf in half lengthwise and press to create a center crease.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Welcome fiber artist and quilter Karen Ponischil, owner of
Karen Ponischil Design. Karen teaches thread painting and free-motion quilting
at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store. To learn more
about Karen, and to see examples of her work visit www.KarenPonischil.com.

I have always loved creating with fabric and began sewing
when I was a youngster. At first I made clothes for my dolls and as I gained
more experience I began making my own clothes. I was given my first sewing
machine for Christmas when I was twelve years old, and this began a life long
love of sewing. In 2001, I discovered
art quilting which was my hobby until 2003 when I decided pursue it as a
career. I create quilts using whole-cloth painting or raw edge appliqué. I then
thread paint the quilt to bring it to
life!

What is thread painting?

Thread is used on fabric like an artist uses pencil on
paper, to add shadows, mid-tones and highlights. Thread “painting” makes an
object look 3-dimensional by using different thread colors. Below is an example of a ginkgo leaf design with
and without thread painting. This is what you will learn in the introductory
thread painting class that I teach at Mary Jo’s. You can see how the stitching and threads
create depth and texture to the fabric.

After mastering the basic techniques, you can take it to the
next level by learning how multiple fabrics and greater detail in the advanced
thread painting class where students learn to create the poppy flower design
below.Thread painting really brings the
quilt to life, making it look more real and lifelike.

What is free-motion quilting?

Quilting also uses thread but the purpose is to hold 3
layers (top, batting and backing) together where thread painting is purely
decorative. Quilting can be done by hand, on a domestic sewing machine or a
long arm machine. Free-motion quilting is a technique where the feed dogs on
the machine are set in the down position, so the quilt can be moved in any
direction under the needle, and not just forward and backward. This allows for greater creativity!

I love sharing my tricks, tips and techniques for sewing,
quilting and thread painting with students.
It is such a fun and creative art that combines fabric, thread and
design. Join the fun and sign up for one
of my classes today, by clicking here.

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Hope all is well with you and yours! I still Love, Love, Love Mary Jo's!! I recently started 'giving back' by teaching sewing classes at my church. We are planning a trip to Mary Jo's before Thanksgiving. I have been in the store, off and on with visitors, acting as a Tour Guide. It's alot of fun to see their eyes pop when they first see the masses of fabrics.;0) La ToyaMiss Pretty Handbags

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Mary Jo’s Business Philosophy...We were recently asked, How do we keep our prices so low?This is the answer…In 1951 when Mary Jo's Cloth Store first opened, Mary Jo made a promise to keep prices affordable. Her goal was to be able to serve a Grandmother making a dress or quilt for her grandchild or a young Mother who needed to make affordable clothes for her children. Since the beginning Mary Jo has held tightly to this philosophy. Over the years her business has grown, the location has changed and people come from all corners of the globe to shop. "Mary Jo's Cloth Store" has been doing mail order for many years and has now launched an online component that will serve her customers easily and still be very affordable. It is important to Mary Jo that she continues to bring her customers the highest quality fabric at the lowest price. So in answer to the question “How does Mary Jo's Cloth Store keep their prices so low?” Simple, it is because we have a lower profit margin and a high volume. So the more you shop, the more you save! Log on to check out our fabrics and notions at www.maryjos.com

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Mary Jo's employees are like family. These are the folks that make things happen. Most of Mary Jo's workers have been helping you for decades. They enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy being at the store. At "Mary Jo's Cloth Store" we have old fashioned values and believe that good workers deserve to be treated like family.